Planning for a Viable Business
The first objective of any business must be to achieve economic viability. Without such it will not last. The jobs and commodity purchases won’t last. Taxable income isn’t generated…and, on and on. That’s why when the Endowment and North Star looked at a green, domestic energy facility scaled to fit the community, considerations included the potential to use tire-derived fuel (TDF -- the energy-rich material resulting from grinding discarded tires) as a supplement to woody biomass.
The first objective of any business must be to achieve economic viability. Without such it will not last. The jobs and commodity purchases won’t last. Taxable income isn’t generated…and, on and on. That’s why when the Endowment and North Star looked at a green, domestic energy facility scaled to fit the community, considerations included the potential to use tire-derived fuel (TDF -- the energy-rich material resulting from grinding discarded tires) as a supplement to woody biomass.
Matching TDF and Biomass: A Double Win
We opted to pursue a plan that would include not-more-than 20% TDF along with the overwhelming majority being woody biomass for two reasons. First, the energy-rich TDF will increase the energy output of the facility while increasing profit margin. Second, taking discarded tires out of the environment and turning them to a beneficial use addresses one of the nation’s most ubiquitous environmental challenges. And, all of this is accomplished while meeting rigorous EPA emission standards through a proven technology.
We opted to pursue a plan that would include not-more-than 20% TDF along with the overwhelming majority being woody biomass for two reasons. First, the energy-rich TDF will increase the energy output of the facility while increasing profit margin. Second, taking discarded tires out of the environment and turning them to a beneficial use addresses one of the nation’s most ubiquitous environmental challenges. And, all of this is accomplished while meeting rigorous EPA emission standards through a proven technology.
Looking to the Future
Permitting, constructing, and operating the facility are simply means to an end. The end in this case is an economically viable and stable corporate neighbor that creates family-supporting jobs (both direct and indirect), add to the tax base, generates significant cash flow through the local economy in the form of raw material and other facility needs, and provides an incentive for forest landowners to better manage their lands with an economic reward for doing so. But, perhaps the biggest and most lasting benefit from the facility will come in the targeting of profits to one or perhaps two of the areas’ most important social needs. The plans for these distributions will come as Community Wealth through Forestry works with the community to identify and develop specific plans to address those outcomes.
Permitting, constructing, and operating the facility are simply means to an end. The end in this case is an economically viable and stable corporate neighbor that creates family-supporting jobs (both direct and indirect), add to the tax base, generates significant cash flow through the local economy in the form of raw material and other facility needs, and provides an incentive for forest landowners to better manage their lands with an economic reward for doing so. But, perhaps the biggest and most lasting benefit from the facility will come in the targeting of profits to one or perhaps two of the areas’ most important social needs. The plans for these distributions will come as Community Wealth through Forestry works with the community to identify and develop specific plans to address those outcomes.
A National Model
While both North Star and the Endowment are excited to be working with the people of Jefferson County to test this new model designed to create assets that will not only remain in, but bolster, the community over the long run, our long-term vision is rooted in a hope that this model can and will be replicated in other rural communities across the nation. The result would be formally linking the interests of private businesses and the communities that support them in ways that go far beyond traditional means. Only time will tell, but we have our hopes and our dreams.
While both North Star and the Endowment are excited to be working with the people of Jefferson County to test this new model designed to create assets that will not only remain in, but bolster, the community over the long run, our long-term vision is rooted in a hope that this model can and will be replicated in other rural communities across the nation. The result would be formally linking the interests of private businesses and the communities that support them in ways that go far beyond traditional means. Only time will tell, but we have our hopes and our dreams.
Carlton N. Owen
1 comments:
You people have not been working with the citizens of Jefferson County. We have been kept in the dark about this Tire Burning Facility. We do not want tires burned in our community. You claim it will bring jobs? Then why was the first thing built on this site built from an out of county construction crew. You claim you will get wood from a nearby sawmill. You better think twice. Please move your interests to another state. preferrably up north. Our county doesn't have the workforce to run a chicken cleaning facility. What makes you think they can run a power generating facility. This is just a big scam in our eyes to siphon off federal grant money and when you can't get anymore you will close up shop and leave a toxic waste site for the taxpayers of our conty to clen up. Thanks but no thanks.
Post a Comment